Fix Ozone Layer, Break Planet

The rescue of Earth’s ozone layer is one of the great environmental success stories, a testament to the power of international cooperation.

But by shielding the planet — and ourselves — from ultraviolet bombardment, humanity may have hastened global warming.

Why can’t climate ever be simple?

That unfortunate side effect was described yesterday in Science by researchers whose computer models showed that closing the Antarctic ozone hole would disrupt a key westerly wind around the South Pole, causing warming in the Southern Hemisphere.